Re: 1917 Sherwood Whiskey - Acker, Merrall & Condit Co.

Re: 1917 Sherwood Whiskey - Acker, Merrall & Condit Co.

I'm gonna try and help you out some, and give you what info I've been able to find, but you're probably not going to like what I have to say.

I'm not really sure what you have there, but it's seem's pretty suspicious to me. It might be some type of rebottling, and/or relabeling in order to sell it at one time or another. Hate to say it, but it looks to me like a fake.

Sherwood was a rye whiskey made back in the day. Nowhere on the label(s) does it mention rye whiskey. The labels also seem to be in almost too good of shape to be from something supposedly that old. There's not much fading of the ink on the hand labeled part. I'm not all that familiar with pre-pro bottlings, but I don't ever recall seeing or hearing of any that were hand labeled like that. The bottle also doesn't appear to be that old. It might be an older bottle, but it looks like something more current than something from the early 1900's. The foil covering over the cap also looks out of place. Acker Merrall & Condit Company is a wine shop in New York. They've been around since 1820, and at one time might have had a branch office, or whatever in Baltimore. It looks like they now specialize in more high end wines. They are also an auction house for wine, and possibly other sprits too. Not sure about that.

All on all, things just doesn't seem to add up concerning your bottle. Sorry to be a downer. Maybe you could do some more research. Make a few phone calls and send some emails. You just never know. Still, chances are it's probably not what it appears to be.

Re: 1917 Sherwood Whiskey - Acker, Merrall & Condit Co.

I've spoken with multiple people at Acker Merrall & Condit via email, including the family that stills owns the shop. I've received information about the history of AMC, which has been interesting.

As to this bottle, it was found under some heavy, heavy dust in the back of a liquor room. I doubt that it had seen much light over the years, but given the penchant for keeping items in excellent condition (ie. items of theirs from WWII, cigars there were passed out to friends during children's birth in the 1950s, humidor / jewelry / family heirlooms passed down from ~1860s, etc.), it wouldn't surprise me that the bottle is in better condition than what would normally be expected.

The owners weren't alcohol collectors / expensive whiskey drinkers. Considering we have no history of the bottle, I'm not sure why it would have been purchased for collection purposes, even if fake, at a later date.

I do know that one of the estate owners was born in 1917. Both estate owners were born and grew up in Baltimore, Maryland (where the address is listed on the bottle), and have extended family that have remained in the area.

Re: 1917 Sherwood Whiskey - Acker, Merrall & Condit Co.

My suggestion would be to open it and compare it to a rye whiskey of today, that way you can help decide its provenance but also assist those (there are many here) who are interested in the evolution of flavour in American whiskey over the generations. We are primarily devoted to examining the palate of the various American (and other) whiskeys. As to which try to buy as a "control", there are many reviewed here on an ongoing basis. Maryland was an old rye whiskey state and a brand, Pikesville rye, historical to Maryland is still made albeit these days in Kentucky. You used to be able to get it at the two small liquor stores in the market downtown, I think now there is only one (not on the side where the peanut vendor plies his wares, the other side). Or at other good outlets in town I'm sure. For what its worth, the overall look of the Sherwood has the ring of truth to me, but you never know. At a gathering of our group in Bardstown some years ago, a valued member brought an old bottle that looked pristine for authenticity, maybe too pristine. I tasted it and in my view it was unquestionably not original, it tasted like coloured vodka. It is possible of course the liquor had changed in the bottle, but I don't think so. Proof is in the taste, finally - no pun intended.

Re: 1917 Sherwood Whiskey - Acker, Merrall & Condit Co.

is that foil or lead?

I've seen labels on turn o' century statuary, medicine bottles, and other stuff that looked to be BETTER than yours, so I don't find the label condition itself a problem, but I know nothing about old whiskey.